Mumbai - Extending Wednesday's gain, the benchmark BSE Sensex rose over 37 points in early trade on Thursday on sustained buying in blue-chip stocks amid a mixed trend in Asian markets.

Besides, covering-up of pending short positions by speculators on the last day of November series expiry in the derivatives segment also influenced sentiment.

The BSE 30-share barometer, which had gained 48.14 points in yesterday's volatile trade, rose 37.75 points, or 0.13 per cent, to 28,423.94.

Similarly, the NSE Nifty also advanced by 12.80 points, or 0.15 per cent, to trade at 8,488.55.

Brokers said apart from sustained buying by funds and retail investors, covering-up of short positions by speculators as today being the last session of November month expiry in the derivative segment and a mixed trend on the other Asian bourses buoyed trading sentiment.

Among other Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 0.45 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei shed 0.42 per cent in early trade today.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.07 per cent to close at a new high in yesterday's trade. (PTI)